F1 Today | Red Bull and Mercedes hit the track, plus big Cadillac news
F1 News
F1 pre-season testing gets underway tomorrow in Bahrain, with the 2025 season continuing to fast approach, In preparation for the first session tomorrow, both Red Bull and Mercedes have conducted shakedows as they get ready for tomorrow's running. Along with this, there has been some big news for Cadillac as they continue their preparation to join the pinnacle of motorsport in 2026.
Red Bull and Verstappen out on track
Just last week, the RB21 was first shown to the world at the well-received F1 75 livery event at the O2 Arena. Now, with just a day remaining until winter testing gets underway at the Bahrain International Circuit, the Austrian team have put their 2025 challenge out on the track for the first time this season.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen was the driver who conducted the shakedown of the RB21, hoping that it will bring him yet more glory as he will compete for his fifth consecutive drivers' World Championship.
The first winter testing session gets underway on Wednesday, and it will be Verstappen's new teammate Liam Lawson who will get behind the wheel of the RB21 for the first morning session.
Mercedes also conducts shakedown
It wasn't just Red Bull who were preparing themselves for the pre-season tests that are upcoming for the next few days in the deserts of Bahrain, as Mercedes also conducted their own shakedown today.
It's been a tough few years for the German team, unable to really challenge at the front of the grid for many seasons. However, there is cautious optimism that they might be back to challenge for the title with George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli as their drivers.
It was Russell who was the first to get behind the wheel of the new W16 for the first time out on the track. Like at Red Bull, I will then be the rookie who starts testing first, with Lewis Hamilton's successor Antonelli taking on the first session of winter testing.
Cadillac falls under new company
Away from Bahrain, Cadillac have had some big news today, as with immediate effect, their new F1 operations will become part of TWG Motorsports, a new branch of TWGGlobal, who already look after other Andretti-branded teams in other racing categories, including Andretti Global (IndyCar, Formula E and Indy NXT).
It is no surprise to see the soon-to-be F1 team have joined forces, with Michael Andretti stepping down from Andtetti Global in late 2024 resulting in Andretti's racing businesses merging with TWG Global.